I sat there, staring at my coffee, feeling a hot flush creep up my neck. I couldn't believe Nathaniel had walked in right after that—right after Marax and I had just... well, the kind of sex that left me breathless, dizzy, and overwhelmed. The kind of sex I never imagined I'd have, let alone with a demon.

Nathaniel's face had been a mix of disbelief and pure mortification when he first stepped into the room. His gaze had flicked immediately to me, naked, exposed in front of him.

His cheeks turned the deepest shade of red, and he clearly didn't know where to look, his eyes darting everywhere except where I was. It was like he wanted to leave, but also didn't, like he couldn't quite bring himself to turn away.

Meanwhile, Marax had found the whole situation hilarious. The laugh he let out was so carefree, so devil-may-care, like it was all just a joke to him. He had barely bothered to cover himself, too busy watching Nathaniel squirm. But the moment he realized I was still naked, his grin faded into something darker, something possessive.

And that's when it hit me. Marax wasn't just laughing at Nathaniel's discomfort; he was pissed.

The possessiveness in his eyes had flared, and just like that, he'd stepped in front of me, his wings spreading wide like a protective barrier. His voice had dropped to a growl as he moved me behind him, blocking Nathaniel's view.

"Don't look at her like that," Marax had grumbled, his tone low and dangerous. "She's mine."

I couldn't help but feel a strange mix of heat and embarrassment flood me all over again.

"Marax, you're so annoying," I had whispered, not entirely sure if I was more embarrassed by Nathaniel's reaction or Marax's over-the-top protectiveness.

Now, here I was, sitting at the kitchen counter, trying to push the images of Nathaniel's shocked expression out of my mind, when all I wanted to do was pretend the whole thing hadn't happened.

But I wasn't sure if Marax had noticed my discomfort or was just going to let me stew in it. His attention seemed focused on me, but in that possessive way that was equal parts arousing and frustrating.

It was clear to him that Nathaniel's reaction had struck a nerve. I could feel it, like a tight knot in the air between us.

"So, what now?" I asked, trying to sound casual, even though my voice felt a little shaky.

Marax, now leaning against the counter, took a slow sip of his own drink, his eyes never leaving me. "Nothing's changed," he said, his grin returning with that familiar cocky edge. "Except, next time, I'll make sure no one walks in on us."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress the faintest smile. "You're such a pain."

"Yeah, but you love it," he said, his eyes darkening with that playful glint I knew too well.

I shot him a look, but my heart wasn't in the teasing. It was hard to keep up the act when his attention was so intense, his presence so overwhelming. There was something magnetic about him, something that made me feel like he could see straight through me, even when I tried to play it cool.

"You just think you're irresistible," I muttered, half joking, half serious.

He chuckled low in his throat, and before I could react, he was leaning in, his lips brushing lightly against my ear. "I know I am," he whispered, his voice sending a shiver down my spine. "But what really matters is that you can't seem to stay away."

I couldn't help but laugh, despite myself. "You're impossible."

"Maybe," he murmured, trailing his fingers down the length of my arm, "but you still can't get enough of me."

The way he said it, with that self-assuredness, made me want to challenge him. But I couldn't deny that there was some truth to it. It was like he had this hold on me, one I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to shake. And maybe—just maybe—I didn't want to.

"You're right," I said after a moment, unable to keep the vulnerability out of my voice. "I can't."

Marax's expression softened, and for a brief moment, the teasing was gone. Instead, there was something deeper in his gaze, something that made my heart race.

He leaned forward, his lips capturing mine in a kiss that was slow and purposeful, as if he was trying to tell me something without words.

When he pulled away, he rested his forehead against mine, his breath warm against my skin. "I don't ever want you to forget that, Athena."

A part of me wanted to say something flippant, to brush it off as just another joke, but I didn't. The way he was looking at me, the sincerity in his eyes, made it impossible. "I won't," I whispered back, my voice quiet, but steady.

He smiled then, a genuine smile, before leaning in to kiss me again, this time more deeply.

I couldn't help but think about Zarach. Our kisses at the audition played on repeat in my mind, each one as vivid as the first. The way his lips had felt against mine, the heat between us, the electric charge that seemed to pulse through my veins... It was impossible to ignore. Even now, his touch lingered on my skin, as if he were still here with me.

And then there was Marax. With him, everything was intense and undeniable. His playful teasing, the way he made me feel like the center of his world, made me feel things I had never felt before.

But it wasn't just the physical pull. It was something deeper, something that made me feel alive in a way I had never experienced.

But how could this be? How could I feel this way about two different men? Two demons, I reminded myself. Was this normal? Was it even okay to feel such intensity for both of them?

I wasn't sure. Part of me felt guilty, like I was betraying something—someone—by being so consumed by them both. But then I realized that what I was feeling wasn't something I could control.

My heart—no, my body—pulled me in two different directions. Both of them made me feel something raw, something powerful.

"What the hell is going on here?"

I froze, the heat from Marax's body still lingering against mine as I turned to see Zarach standing in the doorway, his arms crossed and his glare fixed squarely on us. He didn't just look unhappy—he looked like he wanted to throttle someone. Probably Marax.

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Marax, ever the picture of unbothered arrogance, turned his head lazily over his shoulder, flashing that infuriating grin of his. "Oh, hey, Zac. How's hell treating you?"

I stifled a groan and mentally face-palmed. That was not the way to diffuse this situation.

Zarach's scowl deepened, his voice sharp enough to cut through steel. "You're supposed to be training her, not kissing her."

My cheeks flushed crimson as his gaze shifted to me, and the weight of his disappointment pressed down on me like a boulder.

Marax, however, remained utterly unfazed. He straightened to his full height, stepping slightly in front of me as if shielding me from Zarach's wrath. "Relax, grumpy pants.

Training went fine. Really fine, if I might add—" He threw me a quick wink, which only made my blush deepen. "—aside from the demon attack."

Zarach didn't so much as flinch. His icy glare didn't leave Marax's face. "And kissing her counts as training, does it?" His tone dripped with sarcasm, and I winced at the razor-sharp edge.

Marax rolled his eyes, completely unfazed. "Oh, please. Like you have room to talk, smoochykins."

I stared at him, my jaw practically hitting the floor. He did not just say that.

Zarach's eyes widened, and for the first time since I'd met him, he actually looked caught off guard. "What did you just call me?"

"Oh, don't play dumb," Marax said, folding his arms with a smug grin. "She told me all about your little kiss. I mean, really, Zac. You're over here playing Saint Demon, but you're just as bad as I am."

I buried my face in my hands. I had no idea why I'd thought telling Marax about that moment with Zarach was a good idea. Clearly, he was going to use it to make the worst possible jokes.

Zarach's face hardened again, though I could tell his usual composure was cracking.

"This isn't about me," he ground out, his voice low. "This is about her. Athena is not some toy for you to mess with, Marax."

Heat rushed to my face, and I stepped forward, my voice shaky but firm. "It wasn't like that." My heart thudded painfully as I glanced at Marax. "It wasn't just...a fling."

Marax's gaze softened as it locked with mine. There was no smirk this time, no teasing glint in his eyes. "She's right. It wasn't."

The honesty in his tone made Zarach's expression tighten further, his jaw clenching. He turned to Marax, his voice low and cutting. "And you think that makes it better? Do you even realize what you're messing with here?"

Marax bristled, stepping closer to Zarach, the space between them charged with a dangerous energy. "I'm not messing with anything. This isn't something I planned—it's something I felt. You wouldn't understand."

"Try me," Zarach snapped. His gaze flicked to me, and for a moment, his usual stoicism cracked, revealing something deeper—something raw and conflicted. "Because I think I understand more than you think."

I blinked, caught off guard. "Zarach, what are you talking about?"

He exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair. "Mates," he muttered, almost too quietly to hear. When he looked at me again, his eyes were intense, like he was searching for answers I didn't even know I had.

"It's rare, but it happens. In our world, sometimes two souls connect in a way that's...unshakable. It's more than just chemistry. It's like fate."

Marax crossed his arms, his jaw tightening. "You think I don't know that? You think I don't feel it? This isn't some casual attraction. I feel it every time I'm near her, and it's stronger than anything I've ever known."

My breath caught as his words sank in. A part of me had known—deep down—that what was between us was something extraordinary, something I couldn't explain. But hearing it said out loud made it real.

"And you think you're the only one?" Zarach's voice was quieter now, but no less intense. He looked at me, his dark eyes filled with emotions I couldn't fully decipher. "Because I feel it too."

The room fell silent. My heart thundered in my chest as I looked between the two of them, their words swirling in my mind like a storm. Mates.

Could that really be what this was? And how was it possible to feel this connection with both of them?

Marax's gaze darkened, though there was no hostility in it. "That's the thing about mates, Zac. It doesn't always follow the rules. Sometimes it's messy. Complicated."

"Or impossible," Zarach muttered. But his shoulders slumped slightly, the tension easing just a fraction.

I shook my head, trying to clear the overwhelming thoughts. "I don't understand. This is...too much." I looked at both of them, my voice breaking slightly. "How can something like this even happen?"

Marax stepped closer, his expression surprisingly tender as he cupped my face. "It doesn't matter how. It just is. You feel it too, don't you?"

I nodded slowly, my throat tight. "Yes. But it doesn't mean I know what to do with it."

Zarach exhaled deeply, rubbing the back of his neck. "We're not asking you to decide anything right now. But you need to understand what this means—for all of us."

I nodded again, my mind spinning. This connection—this bond—it was unlike anything I'd ever experienced. But it wasn't just my heart at stake anymore. It was all of ours. And somehow, we'd have to figure out how to navigate it together.

Zarach's voice cut through the tension like a blade, steady but laced with a quiet urgency. "Satan can't know about this," he said, his dark eyes locking onto mine. "If he finds out... he won't hesitate to use it against you. Against us."

His words were sharp, but beneath them, I could sense his protectiveness. I wanted to feel reassured, but Marax's expression darkened, pulling my attention to him.

"Zarach's right," Marax said, his voice unusually serious. "But this goes deeper than just keeping the bond a secret. Athena used hellfire back there." His golden eyes flicked to me, searching my face for something I didn't understand. "Humans can't do that. Not naturally."

The room seemed to close in on me as his words sank in. "What are you saying?" I whispered, my voice shaking.

Marax stepped closer, his gaze unwavering. "I'm saying you're not just human. Hellfire isn't something a regular mortal can wield. Even most demons can't control it without years of training. But you, Athena—you did it like it was second nature."

Zarach stiffened, his brows furrowing as he processed the revelation. "If that's true, then there's more to her than we thought." His voice was quieter now, almost reluctant. "And if Satan knows..."

"He does know," Marax interrupted, his tone grim. "Or at least, he suspects. There's a reason he's been fixated on you, Athena. He sees something in you that we don't understand yet. And that makes you dangerous to him—and to everyone else."

My chest tightened, my thoughts spinning wildly. "So what am I, then? If I'm not just human, what does that make me?"

"We don't have those answers," Marax admitted, his voice softening as he stepped even closer. "But I know who might."

Zarach's head snapped toward him, his jaw tightening. "No. Don't even suggest it."

"We have no choice," Marax said firmly, his gaze locked on Zarach. "If we want to figure out what Satan knows and why Athena is so important, we need to talk to Lucifer."

I blinked, dread pooling in my stomach. "Lucifer? Are you serious? You think he'll just hand over information?"

Marax's grin was humorless. "Lucifer loves meddling, especially if it means undermining Satan. He might not tell us everything, but he'll give us enough to work with."

Zarach ran a hand through his hair, his frustration palpable. "And what happens if he decides she's a threat too? Lucifer doesn't exactly play by the rules."

"Neither do we," Marax shot back, his voice cold. "And right now, he's our best shot at keeping her safe."

I swallowed hard, looking between the two of them. "You're saying I have to meet Lucifer?"

"No," Zarach said sharply, his eyes narrowing at Marax. "She stays out of this. If anyone talks to him, it's us."

Marax tilted his head, his golden eyes softening as they met mine. "We'll figure this out, Athena. But we need to move carefully. If Satan finds out you can wield hellfire, it's game over."

I nodded, though my heart felt like it was in freefall. "And if we find out I'm... not human?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Marax's hand brushed against mine, grounding me in the moment. "Then we figure that out too. Together."

Zarach let out a reluctant sigh, his expression softening just enough to reveal the worry beneath. "We'll protect you, no matter what. But for now, we keep this quiet. No one else can know."

I nodded, trying to gather my thoughts, but before I could say a word, a sudden burst of light filled the room. It wasn't the harsh, scorching light of hellfire—it was purer, brighter, and almost too much to bear.

I shielded my eyes as the brilliance settled into a glowing figure standing before us.

The man was tall and lanky, with a wiry energy that seemed barely contained within his frame. His massive white wings, almost blinding in their radiance, fluttered lightly behind him as if stretching from a long journey.

His blonde hair was a mess, curling wildly around his shoulders and falling into his face in a way that gave him a youthful, carefree look. But it was his eyes that caught my attention—bright, mischievous, and dancing with amusement, like he was perpetually in on some cosmic joke.

"Ah!" he exclaimed, spreading his arms wide in mock delight. "Look at this motley crew! A fiery human, a brooding demon, and..." His gaze landed on Marax, and his grin widened wickedly. "Oh, Marax. Still skulking around, I see. What a surprise."

Marax groaned, rubbing his temples like he had a migraine. "Great. Just great. Solar, what the hell are you doing here?"

The angel—Solar, apparently—grinned wider, his wings giving a playful little twitch. "What am I doing here? Oh, you wound me, Marax. Is this how you greet an old friend? No 'hello,' no 'it's been too long, Solar,' just scowls and groans? Honestly, I expected better."

"Don't flatter yourself," Marax muttered. "And we were never friends."

"Ah, but you're wrong there!" Solar wagged a finger at him. "You were my favorite grumpy demon to torment, and that definitely qualifies as friendship in my book."

Marax looked like he was moments away from throwing something, but Solar had already turned his attention to me. His eyes softened slightly as they studied me, the teasing glint giving way to something more serious—if only for a moment.

"And you must be Athena," he said, his voice dipping into something quieter. "The infamous girl everyone's talking about."

"Everyone?" I echoed, my brow furrowing. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, you know," Solar said breezily, dismissing my concern with a wave of his hand. "Heaven, Hell, the gossip mill's working overtime. You're very popular right now."

"Why are you here?" Zarach cut in, his voice cold and sharp. I glanced at him, noticing the tension in his jaw. He didn't trust Solar—not even a little.

Solar sighed dramatically, clutching his chest like he'd been mortally wounded. "Straight to business, as always. Fine, fine. I'm here because Nathanial, bless his soul, is currently flapping around like an idiot after seeing a naked woman for the first time. Truly, it's the most entertainment I've had in centuries."

Marax froze, then barked out a laugh. "You're joking."

"I'm not!" Solar said, his eyes twinkling with glee. "He's utterly traumatized. I swear, the poor guy was redder than the fires of Hell itself. He's hiding out somewhere, probably trying to scrub the image from his brain.

Honestly, I didn't think it was possible for someone to be that embarrassed."

I felt my cheeks heat up as the memory of Nathanial walking in on me flashed through my mind. "Oh God," I muttered, covering my face with my hands. "This is so mortifying."

"Mortifying for him, maybe," Solar said with a chuckle. "I mean, the guy is practically a walking virtue, and then bam, he's hit with the reality of human anatomy. Classic."

Marax was still laughing, shaking his head in disbelief. "This is too good. I wish I'd been there."

"I'd offer to reenact it," Solar quipped, winking at me, "but something tells me you'd rather not relive the experience."

Zarach, however, was less amused. His arms were crossed tightly over his chest, his scowl deepening with every word. "Are you done yet? Or do you have more jokes at Nathanial's expense?"

Solar smirked, clearly enjoying the tension in the room. "I could go on all day, but no. I came here for a reason. As much fun as it is to tease Nathanial, there are... other matters to discuss."

His gaze flickered to me again, and his smile faded, replaced by something unreadable. "You, for instance, little firestarter. There's a lot more to you than meets the eye."